"Daddy, stop turning around," she said from her perch on her father's shoulders. "It's coming!"

As the float carrying Mickey approached, she waved both hands in the air.

Many shoppers flocking to see stores' festive window displays left their coats at home, and some even wore short sleeves. The annual holiday lights festival also featured a life-size Harry Potter ice sculpture, appearances by Disney characters and a fireworks show. One million white lights were illuminated along Michigan Avenue.

Given the crowds, children hoisted up by their parents had the best view of the parade.

"I came all the way up here, and I can't see anything," said Nina Hernandez of Elgin. The 5-foot-1-inch woman held aloft her disposable camera, hoping to catch the passing Cinderella float on film.

Earlier, hundreds of people waited at Union Station to get their first sight of Santa.

"I'm tons excited," said Nicholas Firrantello, 5, of Lansing, who planned to ask Santa for two monster trucks.

At 12:30 p.m., they all stood at attention, their mouths agape, their eyes wide. Santa Claus was in the building.

The first child on his lap was Dominic Kaczmarek, 5, of Crete, whose mother arrived at the train station at 10 a.m. to secure their spot in line.